Rat guard



Oct. 2, 1962 T. J. BERNHARD 3,056,375

RAT GUARD Filed July 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet vl Thomas J Bern/2 INVEN BY @Mm Oct. 2, 1962 T. J. BERNHARD RAT GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1961 Thomas J Bernhard 1N VENTOR.

Unite States Patent Q 3,056,375 RAT GUARD Thomas J. Bernhard, Sailors Union, 630 Jackson Ave, New ()rleans, La. Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,152 Claims. (Cl. 114-221) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rat guards for use on cables or hawsers of docked ships, and in particular the invention concerns itself with certain improvements in rat guards of the type disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,483,874, dated October 4, 1949.

The guard in accordance with the aforementioned patent comprises a disk-like body consisting of a pair of complemental sections which are pivotally connected together for opening and closing movement and are provided with complemental notches which form a hawser receiving opening at the center of the guard when the sections are closed. As such, the guard is adapted for placing on a hawser of a more-or-less predetermined diameter inasmuch as the size of the hawser receiving opening is fixed.

The improved embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein contemplates a rat guard structure wherein the size of the hawser receiving opening is variable and automatically adjustable to different diameters of hawsers as well as for receiving two or more hawsers in the same guard opening, it being common practice in some instances to use multiple hawsers in parallel, with a single guard applied thereto. It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved rat guard embodying means for varying and automatically adjusting the size of the hawser receiving opening, as outlined above.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may besome apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved rat guard, showing the same in an open position applied to a pair of parallel hawsers;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 but illustrating the guard closed;

FIGURE 3 is a front or ship-side elevational view of the guard per se;

FIGURE 4 is a rear or shore-side elevational view thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the improved rat guard in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and, for most part, is substantially the same as the guard disclosed in my aforementioned Patent No. 2,483,- 874. As such, the guard 10 is in the form of a disk-like body consisting of a pair of complemental, substantially semi-circular sections 12, 14, portions of which are overlapped and operatively connected together by means 16, 18, hereinafter detailed. What may be referred to as the radial or diametric edges of the sections are provided with complemental notches 20, 22 which coact to form a hawser receiving opening 24 at the center of the guard when the sections are closed, as will be readily apparent.

According to the present invention, the notches 2t 22 are substantially semi-oval, so that the opening 24 in the closed guard is of an oval or a substantially oval shape, the major axis or dimension of such an opening being substantially parallel to the radial or diametric edges of the guard sections while its minor axis or dimension extends at right angles to the major axis, as will be apparent from FIGURES 3 and 4.

The means 16 for connecting the sections 12, 14 together consists of a suitable pivot element 26 such as a bolt, pin, rivet, or the like, which is provided on the overlapped portion of the section 14 and extends movably through a slot 28 formed in the overlapped portion of the section 12, it being noted that the slot 28 is substantially parallel to the minor axis or dimension of the opening 24. The pivot element 26 permits swinging movement of the sections 12, 14 between open and closed positions as well as a lateral displacing movement of either section relative to the other, whereby the width or the minor dimension of the opening 24 may be varied in a self-adjusting manner when the guard is positioned on a hawser or hawsers.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the guard may be applied to a single hawser, for example as shown at 30 in FIGURE 5, with the edges of the notches 2t), 22 engaging the hawser at diametrically opposite side portions thereof along the minor dimension of the opening 24. Different diameters of hawsers may be accommodated by the same guard inasmuch as the lateral displacement of the sections 12, 14 alforded by the pivot element 26 and slot 28 permits the minor dimension of the opening 24 to be increased or decreased in a self-adjusting manner when the device is placed in position. Moreover, the same guard may be also applied to two or more parallel hawsers as indicated at 30, 30 in FIGURES l and 2, wherein the major dimension of the opening 24 is large enough to accommodate such multiple hawsers while the minor dimension is automatically adjustable as already described.

The edges of the notches 2t), 22 are preferably flanged or beaded as indicated at 32 to prevent cutting of the hawsers and means are employed for releasably locking the guard in its closed position, such means being similar to those in my aforementioned patent and comprising an endless chain 34 passing through pairs of apertures 36, 38 in the section 14 and in an overlying tab 40 on the section 12, the chain 34 being manipulated by a suitable line 42, as in my prior patent. The tab 40 need not be offset from the section 14, but a spacer 44 is provided on the pivot element 26 between the sections 12, 14, to facilitate passage of the chain 34 therebetween.

The usual guard lifting and lowering line 46 is provided with branches 46a, 4612 connected. to the guard section 12, 14, and the aforementioned connecting means 18 comprises a suitable bolt, pin or rivet 48 movably positioned in overlapped slots 50, 52 formed in the respective sections 12, 14 whereby to limit the opening and closing movement of the guard sections.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a rat guard, the combination of a disk-like body comprising a pair of complemental substantially semicircular sections having portions which are overlapped and also having radial edges formed with complemental substantially semi-oval notches, a pair of complemental arcuate slots, one formed adjacent the outer edge of each semicircular section within the overlapped portion, a pin slidably received transversely through said ar'cuate slots, and means connecting the overlapped portions of said sections inwardly from the arcuate slots and adjacent the semioval notches for a combined swinging movement of the sections between open and closed positions and lateral displacing movement of either section relative to the other.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprise a pivot element provided on the overlapped portion of one of said sections, the overlapped portion of the other section including a slot movably receiving said pivot element therein.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said complemental notches form a substantial oval hawser opening at the center of the guard when the sections are swung to a closed position with the major dimension of said opening being substantially parallel to the radial edges of the sections and the minor dimension at right angles thereto, the lateral displacing movement of the sections effecting a variation in the minor dimension of said opening.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said slot extends substantially in parallel to the minor dimension of said opening.

5. In a rat guard, the combination of a disk-like body comprising a pair of complemental substantially semicircular sections having portions which are overlapped and also having radial edges formed with complemental notches, means connecting the overlapped portions of said sections for a combined swinging movement of the sections between open and closed positions and lateral displacing movement of either section relative to the other, and means for limiting the opening and closing movement of said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,483,874 Bernhard Oct. 4, 1949 2,513,141 Carder June 27, 1950 

